Apparatus for loading lead wires into an automatic stem-making machine



Dec. 6, 1960 J. PETRo 2,963,199

APPARATUS FR LOADING LEAD WIRES INTO AN AUTOMATIC STEM-MAKING MACHINEFiled Dec. 23, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 6, 1960 J. PETRO 2,963,199APPARATUS FOR LOADING LEAD WIRES INTO AN AUTOMATIC STEM-MAKING MACHINEFiled Dec. 25. 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TOR. JWMES Pfr/e0 Dec. 6,1960 I.i-J. PETRO APPARATUS FOR OADING LEAD WIRES INTO AN AUTOMATIC,STEM-MAKING MACHINEl Filed Dee. 23. 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

J2ME-5 PEI-@0 NEEM/.

Dec. 6, 1960 J. PE1-Ro 2,963,199

APPARATUS FOR LOADING LEAD WIRES INTO AN AUTOMATIC STEM-MAKING MACHINEFiled Dec. 23, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. fwn-5 Pfr/e0 Dec. 6, 19602,963,199

J. PETRO APPARATUS FOR LOADING LEAD WIRES INTO AN AUTOMATIC STEM-MAKINGMACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed-D66. 23. 1954 Dec. 6, 1960 J PETRo 2 9 3APPARATUS FOR LADING LEAD wIREs INT0 6 199 AN AUTOMATIC STEM-MAKINGMACHINE Filed DSG. 23. 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 NEW OHP/NG' INVEN TOR.TH/WFS FEWO Dec. 6, 1960 J. APPARATUS FOR LO AN AUTOMATIC Filed Dec. 23,1954 PETRO ADING LEAD WIRES INTO STEM-MAKING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7TRIM/.Fm CUF I Haz/20407# SMI/6 lla' ad@ /YWNEX nited States APPARATUSFOR LOADING LEAD WIRES INTO AN AUTOMATIC STEM-MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec.23, 1954, Ser. No. 477,329

Claims. (Cl. 221-13) The present invention relates to automatic sternmaking machines and, more particularly, to a method of, and apparatusfor loading lead wires into such machines.

l am aware of U.S. Patent 2,637,144, entitled Automatic Lamp SternFabricating Apparatus, issued to R. M. Gardner et al., on May 5, 1953and assigned to the Sylvania Electric Products Inc. In such a machinethe number of lead wires to be loaded into a head thereof may be fedindividually at separate stations. The devices usually employed todetect lead wires in a head of such a machine generally havemechanically operated scissorlike detector ngers carrying electricalcontacts. These contacts of the mechanical detectors are usuallyemployed to close an electrical circuit which signals the absence of oneor more leads and prevents tne loading of an exhaust tube or llare,depending on the operating sequence of the stem machine.

Checking the presence of a complete set of leads in the weld pocket of a-head of a stem machine is a diicult undertaking for a mechanicallydriven detector. When, for example, the leads are located in closeproximity to each other it is well nigh impossible to construct amechanical detector of this type to detect simultaneously the completeset of leads, without resorting to a complicated mechanism having aplurality of interfering and cooperating mechanical detecting lingers.Again, if the leads are long and imsy in nature such a mechanicaldetector, operating within the small operating range of approximately.010 to .015 (commonly the diameter of sucn leads), will often fail tofunction properly due to deformation of the leads at work stations priorto the detecting stations.

Stem making machines of the conventional type employ a stern partsloading method comprising; first loading a are into the flare holdingjaws at one station; detecting the flare at the next station; loadingthe lead wires, one at a time at successive stations; detecting the leadwires at a succeeding station; and feeding an exhaust tube into theexhaust tube holder at a further work station. Detecting the presence ofa fla-re is a simple task for a mechanical detector. However, asmentioned above, detecting the presence of a complete set of leads(prior to the feeding of an exhaust tube) with such mechanical detectorsis unsatisfactory. With this conventional method of loading the partsinto a stem machine, a defective stem results if the lead wire detectorfails in its assignment. No provision is made for the detection duringdelivery of a complete set of leads at one time at one station.

Hence, it has been found advantageous according to the invention toprovide a method of and apparatus for loading a full set of leads at onetime at one station of a stem machine. The number of leads, it will beunderstood, which may be loaded is not restricted and may comprise anydesired amount. The invention also employs a novel vacuum operated leadwire detector which eliminates the need for mechanical detectinglingers.

atent 'i ICC The apparatus of the invention for feeding lead wires tothe weld pocket of a stem making machine comprises a plurality of leadwire hoppers for supplying the required number of lead wiresindividually, a lead wire loader or slide assembly for selecting andsegregating the desired number of lead wires, a vacuum type detector fordetecting the presence of a full set of lead wires and a transfer cupassembly for delivermg a full set of lead wires to the weld pocket.

The lead wire loader or slide assembly, having its lead i wire selectorslots under vacuum, slides by the loading end in each of the pressurestacked lead wire hop-pers, to select and segregate a lead wire. As eachselector slot is plugged the pressure in the detector drops causing tnepressure responsive actuating means to close an electrical work circuitwhen all selector slots are filled. At the end of the slides travel eachlead wire is held in its selector slot in the slide adjacent thedelivery slot in the stationary portion of the lead wire feedingapparatus.

ln its general aspect the present invention has as its objective amethod of, and apparatus for, loading lead wires into an automatic stemmaking machine.

A specic object of the invention is apparatus for feeding lead wires tothe weld pocket of a stem making machine comprising a plurality of leadwire hoppers for supplying the required number of lead wires individualnly, a lead wire loader for selecting and segregating the desired numberof lead wires, a vacuum type detector for detecting the presence of afull set of lead wires, and a transfer cup device for delivering a fullset of lead wires to the weld pocket.

A further object is a transfer cup assembly for receiving in its upposition a full set of lead wires from a lead wire loader and which isswingable over a weld pocket, and reciprocable downwardly above saidweld pocket to deliver said leads thereto.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it appertains as the description thereofproceeds both by direct recitation and by implication from the context.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals of reference indicatesimilar parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an automatic stem making machinehaving the apparatus of the invention for feeding leads thereinto.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of a finished stem fabricated on themachine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic fragmentary side elevational view of the weldpocket, lead wires loaded therein, lead wire gathering lingers, and areholder jaws prior to the raising of the weld pocket to introduce thelead wires into the flare at Station 9.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus for loading a complete set oflead wires -into a weld pocket tof a head of the machine of Fig. l, atStation 4.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the lead wire loading apparatusof Fig. 4 along the line V--V of Fig. 4 in the direction of the arrowsand showing the movement of the transfer cup assembly from the loadingposition to the position for Alead wire discharge into the weld pocket.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the transfer cup assembly ordevice of the lead wire loading apparatus along the line VI-VI of Fig. 5in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View of the transfer cup assembly of thelead wire loading apparatus in the lead wire discharge position over theweld pocket along the line VII- VII of Fig. 6 in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical sectional View of the lower portion ofthe transfer cup in the lead wire discharge position along the lineVIII-VIII of Fig. 6, and similar to Fig. 7. n

Fig. 9 is a horizontal sectional view of the lead Wire guide chute ofthe lead wire loader along the line IX-IX of Fig. in the direction ofthe arrows.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the frame, upper or head conveyorchain, lower or weld pocket conveyor chain and drive mechanism for thelead wire loader and transfer cup assembly.

Fig. 1l is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of a portion of Fig. 4 ofthe lead wire loader in the lead Wire discharge position and vacuum typelead wire detector with portions thereof broken away to show the detailsthereof.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of the lead wire loader and leadwire detector of Fig. 11 along the line XII-XII in the direction of thearrows.

Fig. 13 is an exploded view of the lead wire retaining inserts andloading slots of the lead wire loader slide.

Fig. 14 is a wiring diagram of the lead wire detecting circuit and leadwire delivery circuit and an operating relay activation circuit with theparts in the position shown on the line A-A of the operational cycle ofFig. 15.

Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view of the operational cycle of the apparatusfor loading lead wires into a stem making machine.

Fig. 16 is a ow chart illustrating the method of stem manufacture of theinvention.

Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a modification of thepressure sensitive actuating means employed by the vacuum type lead wiredetector of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to Fig. l, thereference numeral 10 designates an automatic stem making machineincorporating an improved lead wire loading apparatus 12 and vacuum typelead wire detector 14 (Fig. 14) of the invention.

The automatic stem making machine 1t) may be employed to fabricate astem 16 (Fig. 2). This stern 16 may comprise, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,a flare 18 sealed by means of its press 19 to a plurality of, forexample four, lead Wires 20. The stem 16 may also be provided with anexhaust tubulation 22 and a vitreous arbor 23 projecting from the press19 for insertion therein of filament support wires (not shown).

This automatic stem making machine 10 has a base 24 shown in Fig. l0. Atool rail 2S is carried by the base 24 and in turn supports lowerspacers 26. A lower orweld pocket conveyor chain frame 27 for carrying alower chain conveyor 27a provided with a plur-ality of reciprocable weldpockets 28 (Figs. 3, 5, and 7), for example thirty-seven thereon, issupported by the spacers 26. An upper or head conveyor chain frame 29(Fig. 10) which carries an upper chain conveyor 29a provided with aplurality of stem fabricating heads 3i) (Figs. 4 and 5) thereon (onehead 30 for each weld pocket 28) rests on upper spacers 31 (Fig. l0).These spacers 31 in turn are carried by the lower chain frame 27. An outboard upper bearing 32 (Fig, 10) of a conventional chain indexingmechanism (not shown) for indexing the thirty-seven heads 30 and theweld pockets 28 through a like number of work stations, projects abovethe upper chain frame 29 (Fig. 10).

Between Station 3 and Station 4 (Fig. l) of the automatic stem makingmachine 10, a weld pocket detector or normally open microswitch 4t)(Figs. 4 and 6), designated diagrammatically in Fig. 14, may be providedwith a detecting microswitch arm or finger 42 which remains stationary(during indexing of a head 30 and after a normally closed resettingswitch 200 (Fig. 4) has been opened), if the weld pocket is empty, thusmaintaining the switch 40 in the open position.

At Station 4, with a weld pocket 28 being in its lowermost position(Figs. 1, 4 and 5), the apparatus 12 for loading lead wires 20 of theinvention first detects by means of the vacuum type lead wire detector14 (Fig. 14) the presence of a full set of lead wires 20 in a lead wireloader 45 (Figs. 4, 5 and l0) of the apparatus 12. r[hen the loader 45feeds a full set of lead Wires 20 into a transfer cup assembly or device46 (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 10) of the apparatus 12 for loading lead wires 20.This transfer device 46 delivers the full set of lead wires 20 into theclean Weld pocket 28 at Station 4.

At Station 6 a ilare holder jaw assembly 47 (Figs. 3 and 4) of a head 36is opened and a flare 16 is delivered thereinto if lead wires 26 in apocket 28 indexing into Station 6 moves an arm 5t) of a lead Wiredetector or normally closed microswitch 49 with a stationary contact 48of the switch 49, thus closing the switch 49. This switch 49 energizes acoil 338 (Fig. 14) of a solenoid (not shown) for preventing loading of aflare 18 into a flare holder jaw assembly 47 (Fig. 4). A first laredetector or normally closed microswitch S1 at Station 7, similar inconstruction to the weld pocket detector or microswitch 40 at Station 3,has a swingable microsW-itch arm 52 (Fig. 14) and a normally closedcontact 54. As shown in Fig. 14, if a tlare 18 is present, the swingablearm 52 is moved away from the contact 54. If the switch 51 closes atStation 7, a coil 346 (Fig. 14) of a lead Wire removal solenoid (notshown) is energized and the lead wires 20 will be removed byconventional means, such as an air blast or a conventional lead wireabstractor, not shown. The lead wires 20 are gathered together atStation 9 by a lead wire gathering device S6 (Fig. 3), and the weldpocket 28 is raised, as hereinafter explained, to insert the lead wires20 within the are 18 held in the are holding jaw assembly 47.

A second flare detector or normally closed microswitch 58 (Fig. 14) atStation l0 also has a microswitch arm 60 and a normally closed contact62. lf a are 18 is missing the switch 58 remains closed and a coil 354(Fig. 14) of a solenoid (not shown) for preventing loading of an exhausttube 22 is energized and an exhaust tube 22 is not delivered to anexhaust tube holder assembly 64 of a head 30 (Figs. 4 and 5) at Stationl0. If the second flare detector switch 58 is opened, an exhaust tube 22is delivered to the assembly 64 at Station 10. An exhaust tube detectoro-r normally closed microswitch 66 (Station 1l) having a swingablemicroswitch arm 67 and a normally closed contact 68 may cause, if a tube22 is missing and if the switch 66 remains closed, the energization of acoil 330 (Fig. 14) of a solenoid (not shown) for removing the lead wires20 and the flare 18 at Station 11, if an exhaust tube 22 was not loadedat Station 10.

Inasmuch as the method of manufacture and the apparatus employed at theremaining work stations of the stem making machine 10 are conventional,it is not deemed necessary for the purposes of explaining the invention,herein to be discussed, that the remaining portions of the stem makingcycle be explained in detail. In the following general description ofthe conventional operation of the stern making machine the tooling atthe various stations is identified in Fig. 1 by caption and not byreference numeral.

Stem heating tires at Stations "13 through Station 32 (Fig. 1), a rststern press at Station 20" and a second stem press at Station 27" may beemployed. At Station 33 a no-blowout and exhaust tube detector and weldpocket pushdown device may be used. A defective stem remover may disposeof any stern at Station 34. A lead wire spreader at Station 36 positionsthe lead wires 20 for the filament mounting operation. The finished stem16 may be transferred from the stem making machine at Station 37.

Heads 30 As shown in Figs. 4, and 10 the upper conveyor chain 29a (Fig.l0) comprises a series of links 70. Each link 70 carries an inner roller72 (Fig. 10) in engagement with a conveyor track 74 on the frame 29 andan outer roller 76 engaging the outer surface of the track 74. A shaft7S (Fig. 10') extends through a goose-neck flange (not shown) of thelink 70 and the plate-like body (not shown) of the next link 70 andcarries the outer roller 76 thereon. A head 30 is mounted on the link 70by means of pins (not shown) projecting from the underside of the link70 and into the body or casting 80 of a head 36.

The casting 80 (Fig. 5) has a shaft supporting hub portion 84a, forjournalling therein, an operating shaft 84 (Fig. 4). This shaft 84carries a are holder locking arm 85 on its lower end for engagement withthe are holder jaw assembly 47, adjustably mounted (Fig. 5) 0n the lowerside wall of the casting 80.

An exhaust tube holder jaw locking arm 85' pivotable on the sha1Ct 84secures an exhaust tube 22 in the exhaust tube holder assembly 64 (Fig.5) adjustably xed to the side Wall of the casting 80 above the areholder jaw assembly 47. The casting 80 carries an exhaust tube guide(not shown) below the exhaust tube holder assembly 64.

A cam engaging operating arm 94 on the upper end of the shaft 84 carriesa return spring pin 94a (Fig. 5) depending therefrom and is engageablewith a stationary cam 96 (Figs. 4 and 5) mounted on the upper chainframe 29, adjacent Station 4, the lead wire loading station, to open theare holder locking arm 85 of the flare holder jaw assembly 47 and permitloading of a weld pocket 28 with lead Wires 20.

A pin 9S (Fig. 5) projects above and depends below the Ilink 70. Areturn spring 98a (Fig. 5) extends between the pin 98 and the pincarried by the operating arm 914. A similar spring (not shown) extendsfrom the pin 98 through a clearance hole (not shown) in the casting 80,to the movable exhaust tube holder locking arm 85 of the exhaust tubeholder assembly 64.

Weld pocket 28 Each of the weld pockets 28 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 10) has amounting bracket 106 (Fig. 5) secured to a link 70 of the lower conveyorchain (Fig. 5). A vertical roller guide plate 108 on the bracket 106supports a weld pocket carriage 110. This carriage 110 rides on theguide plate 108 by means of rollers 112 (Figs. 4 and 5) and is providedwith a shaft 114 for connection to a Weld pocket reciprocating mechanism(not shown).

A lead Wire receiving body 116 of the weld pocket 28 is carried by thecarriage 110. This body 116 (Fig. 3) comprises a cylinder provided withlead Wire receiv- Iing slots 116a (Fig. 3) spaced about the peripheryand an axial arbor receiving center hole.

Apparatus for loading lead wires As shown particularly in Fig. 10, alead wire loader mounting bracket or casting 131) (Figs. 4, 5, and 10)is suitably affixed to the tool rail 25. This bracket 130 has agenerally inverted L-shaped vertical cross-section, as shown in Fig. l0,and has an upper plate-like mounting ange 131:1 (Fig. 7), a lower shaftbearing ange 131b, and an operating and retaining flange 131e. Thebracket 131) supports a pair of mount rods 132 upstanding from the upperplate-like mounting ange 131:1. These mount rods 132: carry a ylead Wireloader mounting platform 134 (Figs. 4, 5, l0 and l2) which is secured`to the upper portions of the rods 132. As shown particularly in Fig. 12a bottom plate 136 of a plurality of lead wire hoppers 138, for examplefour in the present showing of Fig. 4, rests on the mounting platform134.

Hoppers These hoppers 138 (Figs. 4 and l1) are essentially an open boxpartitioned in the middle and provided with tapered guide blocks 139 attheir exit ends.

In addition to the bottom plate 136, the hoppers 138 have longitudinalside-walls 140 (Figs. 5 and 12) separated by a center partition 142(Fig. 4) and integrated at the ends by end wall portions or plates 144.A lead wire feeding pad 146 (four in number, one for each hopper 138) iscarried on the end of a plunger 148 (Fig. 4), which is biased by aspring 148a and extends through an end portion 144 and into each hopper138. Each pad 146 compresses the lead wires 20 into a vertical stack andforces them toward the tapered lead wire feeding or discharge end ofeach hopper 138, formed between the block 139 and the center partition142 (Fig. 11).

Longitudinal guide rods or rails 150 (Figs. 4, 5, 10 and l2), extendingbetween the extreme outside portions of the end plates 144, carry springbiased lead wire locking pin mounting blocks 152 which are slidablethereon. Lead wire locking pins .154 project from the blocks 152 (Fig.4) horizontally across the hoppers 138. It will be understood there isone pin 154 for each hopper 138. These retractable locking pins 154 maybe employed to maintain the lead wires 21) in the desired compressedlead wire feeding position, shown in Fig. 4, while the pads 146, forexample, are retracted, either by hand or by mechanical means (notshown) to permit the loading of additional lead wires 20 in the spacebetween the retracted pad 146 and the locking pin 154 in each of thelead wire hoppers 138.

As shown particularly in Fig. 1l the tapered delivery ends of thehoppers 138 are adjacent to a lead wire selector slide (Figs. 4, 5, 10,ll and l2) of a selecting means and a securing means, such as the leadwire selector slide assembly or lead wire loader 45.

Lead wire selector slide assembly 45 The selecting means comprisesessentially the slide 160 which reciprocates horizontally (Fig. 4) in apair of bearings 161 (Fig. 5) mounted in the side walls 140 of thehoppers 138. This slide 160 carries, on either side thereof, a centerinsert 164 (Figs. 11, 13 and 14) and flanking adjacent end inserts 166,shown in exploded view in Fig. 13. Each of the longitudinal edges of theend inserts 166 is p'rovided with half of a lead wire selecting slotwhich is complementary to similar half slots provided in the edges ofthe center insert 164. Thus, when the inserts 166 and 164 are assembledin the slide 161) as shown in Fig. 1l, these half slots form the leadwire selecting slots 168, shown therein.

To provide a securing means it will be understood from a considerationof Figs. 5, 1l, 12, 13, and 14 that the lead wire selector slots 168 areconnected by a generally U- shaped exhaust groove 170 in the centerinsert 164 to a transverse exhaust chamber or large hole 171 (Fig. 14)which is within the slide 160 and connects both grooves 170. As shownparticularly in Fig. 12 a vertical pressure detecting hole 172 isprovided in the slide 160 and extends of the chamber 171. This hole 172is plugged at its upper end by a plug 17211 (Fig. 12). A pressuredetecting line 173 (Figs. 5 and l2) may extend from hole 172 through theright hand end portion (when viewed in Fig. 5) of the slide 160 for useas hereinafter described. An exhaust line 173e suitably parallel to theyline 173 extends from the chamber 171 to a three-way valve 222 (Fig.14).

A vertical discharge groove 174, desirably semi-circular in crosssection, is provided (Fig. 11) in the slide engaging faces of the centerpartition 1'42 and a vertical discharge groove 174e is provided in theright hand (when viewed in Fig. l1) guide blocks y139. As the deliveryslots 168 in the slide 16) come to rest adjacent these grooves i174 and174a, the leads 20 held in the delivery slots 168 are released into thedelivery grooves 174 and 174a, when the vacuum within the slide 160 isdestroyed, as hereinafter explained.

It will be understood that the selector slots 1-68 in the reciprocableslide 160 (Figs. 4, 5, and 1l) move to the left (when viewed in Fig. 11)from the delivery position shown in Fig. 11 opposite the delivery groove174, to a position just inside the delivery end of the lead wire hoppers138; remain in this position (Fig. l5) for a predetermined time topermit lead Wires 20 to locate themselves in the slots 168; moveforwardly to the left hand end of the delivery end of the hoppers 138(when viewed in Fig. ll) for a nal try at loading a lead wire 20, andthen move to the right (when viewed in Fig. 11) across the delivery endof the lead wire hoppers 138 to a position opposite the delivery grooves174 in the center partitions 142 and the guide blocks 139. This back andforth motion of the slide 160 substantially insures the selection of alead Wire 20 from the wires 20 in a hopper 138, by each selector slot168.

In addition to the slide 160, the lead wir selector slide assembly 45comprises a lead wire delivery chute 180 provided with a plurality ofdelivery holes 181, four in number (Figs. 5, 9, l and 12), and a leadwire selector slide operating mechanism 182 shown particularly in Figs.4, 5, 6 and l0.

Lead wire selector slide assembly operating mechanism A pair of links184 (Figs. 4, 5 and 10) of the lead wire selector slide assemblyoperating mechanism 182 connect the left hand end (when viewed in Fig.of the slide 160 to an upper arm of an upper bell crank lever 186. Thelever 186 (Fig. 5) is fixed to a lever shaft 187 mounted on bracketsdepending from the mounting platform 134 of the lead wire loader 4S. Thelower arm of the bell crank lever 186 is connected by means of auniversal joint to a connecting rod 188. The lower end of the connectingrod 188 (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and l0) may be joined by a second universal jointto a lower bell crank lever 19t) (Fig. 4) on a stud shaft 192 supportedby brackets (not shown) upstanding from the base 24 of the machine '10.A roller 191 on an arm of the bell crank lever 19t) (Fig. l0) is held inengagement with a slide operating cam 194 on a longitudinal main camshaft 196 of the machine 1t) (Figs. l, 6 and 10) by means of a spring193.

A microswitch mounting bracket 198 (Fig. 10)' upstanding from the base24 of the machine 10 carries a cycle resetting microswitch 200 (Figs.and 14) and a lead wire discharge microswitch 202. The Switches 280 and262 may be actuated by microswitch operating cams 204 and 205respectively on a second longitudinal cam shaft 285 (Figs. l and l0)ofthe machine 10. It will be understood that the cam shafts 196 and 286are journalled in suitable bearings (not shown) upstanding from the base24 of the machine 1t).

The cycle resetting switch 269 as shown in Figs. l4 and 15, is normallyclosed and is opened during indexing, to reset the vacuum type lead wiredetector 14 of the invention. The lead wire discharge microswitch 292 isnormally open and is actuated brieily to discharge the lead wires 20from the lead wire selector slide assembly 45, as hereinafter explained.Closure of the switch 202 releases the lead wires 2t) from the selectorslots 168, into the discharge grooves 174, through guide holes in thebottom plate 136 of hoppers 138 (Fig. 12) and the delivery chute 180 andinto the transfer cup assembly 46.

Vacuum type lead wire detector I4 The vacuum type lead wire detector 14(Figs. 4, 5, l0, ll, l2 and 14) of the invention employs the selectorslots 168 in the slide 160 of the lead wire selector slide assembly 45as lead Wire detecting lingers. The above mentioned exhaust groove 170,the exhaust chamber 171, the vertical probe hole 172 and the pressuredetecting line 173 form a vacuum detecting line or system through theslide 160. As shown diagrammatically in Fig. 14, the vacuum line 173extends to a pressure responsive actuating means 212, such as thebellows shown -in Fig. 12 or the vacuum gauge 212', shown in Fig. 17.

As shown particularly in Figs. 4, 12 and 14, the preferred embodiment ofthe pressure responsive actuating means 212 (the bellows of Fig. 12) maybe suitably mounted (Fig. 4) on a bracket 213 upstanding from themounting platform 134 of the lead Wire loader 45, and carries anoperating arm 214 (Fig. 12) for engagement with a movable arm of, forexample, a normally open microswitch 218;

The exhaust chamber 171 (Figs. 5, 12 and 14) in the slide 160, isconnected by means of the vacuum line 173a to a three-way solenoidoperated valve 222 (Fig. 14). This valve 222 is provided with an airinlet line 224 and a line 226 (Fig. 14) leading to a suitable evaeuatingmeans (not shown), such as a conventional vacuum pump of the type shownin U.S. Patent No. 1,623,315, issued April 5, 1927 to I. R. Kinney.

It will be understood that when there are no lead wires 20 in theselector slots 168 of the slide 160 that air will rush into the slots168; through the exhaust groove 170 and the exhaust chamber 171 withinthe slide 169; through the exhaust line 173 to the pressure responsiveactuating means 212. This air will expand the bellows 212 (Figs. 12 and14) moving the operating arm 214 to the left (when Viewed in Fig. l2)and leave the switch 218 in its normally open position. It is obviousthat as each of the selector slots 168 in the slide 160 selects a leadWire 20 from a hopper 138, the opening through the selector slot 16S isplugged by the lead wire 20. The pressure within the vacuum type leadwire detector 14 decreases proportionately. Thus, when all the selectorslots 168 in the slide are filled, the pressure within the detector 14drops and the pressure responsive actuating means (the bellows) 212contracts to close the switch 218, thus loading lead wires 20 in-to thetransfer cup assembly 46 from the lead wire loader 45, as hereinafterexplained.

Operation of lead wire slide assembly 1t will be understood from aconsideration of Fig. 15 that after about 3.9. or l seo 12 of a cycle(and during charge openings in the hoppers 138. The slide 168 as shownin Fig. 15 does not move for about n o, i 360 6 of cycle, giving thelead wire detector 14 its opportunity to Work. Finally the slide 160 ismoved further to the left (when viewed in Fig. 11) yby the mechanism 182during the next.

s0. o. i 360 6 cycle to the left hand end of the discharge opening inhoppers 138 and then back to the right to the position, shown in Figs. 5or4 11, thus giving the selector slots 168 a second chance to pick up alead wire 20, if for Some reason, they fail in the rst attempt.

As shown in Fig. 17 the vacuum line 173 may be alternately connected tovacuum type gauge 212'. This monometer type vacuum gauge may employ, forexample, mercury as the liquid contained therein. A line 230 may connecta contact 232 projecting from the bottom portion of the gauge 212 to oneside of the voltage supply or a junction point 233 in Fig. 14. A secondline 234 may connect a second contact 236 to the other side of thevoltage supply through a signal system or, as shown in Fig. 14, to ajunction point 237.

It will be understood if a lead wire 20 is missing from each of the fourselector slots 168 in the slide 160, air rushing thereinto (aspreviously explained) will cause a high reading, as indicated at postiou1 of the gauge 212 in Fig. 17. If one lead wire 20 is picked up in aselector slot 168, the pressure reading will be proportionately lower,as indicated by position 2 on the gauge 212. Thus, as each selector slot168 picks up a lead wire 2t) the opening therethrough is plugged andythe pressure reading within the gauge falls until the mercury extendsbetween the contacts 232 and 236, thus closing the signal or workcircuit mentioned above.

Transfer cap assembly 46 A rotating or oscillating shaft 240, Figs. 3,4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10, ofthe lead wire -transfer assembly 46 extendsthrough the upper plate-like flange 131a, the lower shaft bearing flange131b and the operating and retaining flange 131e` of the lead Wireloader mounting bracket 130, as shown particularly in Fig. 10. The shaft248 is jonrnalled therein on suitable bearings in said anges. A transfercup mounting and support arm 244 (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 10) is secured bymeans of its hub portion to the upper portions of the rotating shaft240. This transfer cup support arm 244 carries a transfer cup 246handily provided with lead wire receiving holes 248 (Figs. 5 and 7) anda lead wire transfer cup release assembly 250 (Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8)carried on the bottom face of the arm 244 as shown in Fig, 6 transverseto the longitudinal axis of the arm 244.

Transfer' cap release assembly 250 This Itransfer cup release assembly250 (Figs. 5, 6, and 7) comprises a slide guide 251, secured to thetransfer cup support arm 244 and transverse thereto (Figs. 5 and 8). Theguide 251 carries a spring biased slide engaging detent 252 (Fig. 5)depending therefrom which engages a notch (not shown) in a slide 253,retained in the slide guide 251 4by means of a retaining plate 254. Theslide 253 extends over the bottom portion of the transfer cup 246 and isprovided with lead wire receiving holes 255 (Fig. 8) which areregisterable with the lead wire receiving holes 248 of the transfer cup246.

When the detent 252 is engaged in the notch in the slide 253, the holes255 in the slide are not in register with the holes 248 in the transfercup 246. The slide 253 carries a release plate 256 (Figs. 5, 7 and 8)for engagement with a lead wire release stop 257 and a trans- -fer cupslide resetting stop 258 (Fig. 6), as hereinafter explained. Thestationary delivery st-op 257 is located on a shaft 259 (Fig. 5) securedin the flange 131a of the lead wire loader mounting bracket 130. Thestop plate 258 is carried -by a bracket 260 mounted on the left handmount rod 132, when viewed in Figs. 5, 6 and 10.

As the transfer arm 244 in its down position swings in a clockwisedirection from the solid position of Fig. 6 to the dotted position ofFig. 6, the lead wire release stop plate 257 restrains the release plate256 and hence the slide 253. The transfer cup 246 continues to swinguntil the holes 248 in the `transfer cup register with the holes 255 inthe slide 253 .(in the delivery position) and the lead wires 20 fallfrom the transfer cup 246 into the weld pocket 28 therebelow.

As the transfer yarm 244 in its up position is rotated or swungcounterclockwise (Fig. 6) on the return swing, the slide resetting stopplate 258 restrains the slide 253 near ythe end of the swing. Thetransfer cup 246 continues to swing beyond, so that the holes 248 in thetransfer cup 246 move out of register with the holes 255 in the slide253.

Transfer cup assembly rotating mechanism A transfer cup assemblyrotating mechanism 261Y (Figs. 6 and 10) has an operating lever or yoke262 keyed to the rotating shaft 240 between the flanges 131b and 131e(Fig. 10) of the lead loader. An adjustable link 264 connects the outerend of the yoke 262 with a bell crank lever 266 on the lever shaft 192(Figs. 6 and 1G) of the machine 10. This bell crank lever 266 carries aroller (Figs. 6 and l0) on its lower arm which is held in continuousengagement with a transfer cup `assembly swinging cam 268 (on shaft 196)(Figs. 6 and l0) by means of a spring 270 extending from the upper armof the lever 266 to the microswitch mounting bracket 198.

Transfer cup assembly reciprocating mechanism 282 A vertical shaft 280of a transfer cup assembly recip rocating mechanism 282 (Figs. 6 and l0)is suitably journalled in the upper flange 131a of the mounting bracketand in the lower flange 131b of the lead wire loader mounting bracket130. This shaft 280 (Figs. 5, 6, and l0) carries a yoke 290 which tsaround the rotating shaft 240. Collars 292 (Fig. 10) on the rotatingshaft 240 prevent relative vertical movement between the shafts 240 and280. A spring 294 extends from the upper portions of the reciprocatingshaft 280 to the lower flange 131b and maintains a desired tension in avertical direction on the reciprocating shaft 280. An adjustableconnecting rod 296 (Fig. l0) joins the bottom portion of thereciprocating shaft 280 to a bell crank lever 298 (Figs. 6 and l0) onthe lever shaft 192. A roller carried on the bell crank lever 298engages a transfer cup assembly reciprocating cam 300 on the main camshaft 196 of the machine 10.

Operation of transfer cup assembly After of a cycle and during theindexing period (Fig. 15), the transfer arm 244 and cup 246 are moveddownwardly (from the position shown in Fig. 5) =by the transfer cupassembly -reciprocating mechanism 282. This motion is completed whenlead wire loading slide completes its first lead wire loading pass orwithin the next of the cycle. The transfer cup 246 remains down for thenext ng o, i 360 3 of a cycle. From of a cycle to lss o e 36o r 9 of -acycle the transfer arm 244 and cup 246 are swung clockwise from thesolid position to the dotted position shown in Fig. 6, bythe transfercup assembly rotating mechanism 261 and the lead wires 20 dischargedinto a weld pocket 28, as hereinbefore explained, by operation of acycle.

During the time between zu o, l 260 12 of a cycle and of a cycle thetransfer arm 244 and cup 246 are moved upwardly by the reciprocatingmechanism 282. I ust before the end of the upward travel of the cup 246of a cycle) both arm 244 and cup 246 are rotated counter clockwise (Fig.6) by the rotating mechanism 261. Rotation of the cup 246 and theresetting of the release slide 253 are accomplished at of the cycle anda new charge or set of lead wires 20 is fed into the transfer cup 246.

Operating circuits (exhaust tube detecting circuit a! Station l1) Asshown in Fig. 14 a conductor 310 extends from one side of a suitablepower supply through junction points 312, 314, 315, 316, and 317 to theswingable rnicroswitch operating or detecting arm 67 of the exhaust tubedetector or microswitch 66. The other side of the voltage supply isconnected by a rconductor 318 through a series of junction points 320,321, 322, 324, 326, and 328 to one side of a coil 330 of the lead wireand flare removal solenoid (not sho-Wn). The other side of the coil 330is connected by means of a conductor 332 to the normally closed contact68 of the microswitch 66.

Thus, it will be seen from a consideration of Fig. 14 that when anexhaust tube 22 is missing from an exhaust tube holder assembly 64 of ahead 30 ,of the machine 10, that the swingable microswitch arm 67 of theexhaust tube detector 66 remains in engagement with the vcontact 68 anda closed circuit exists from the power supply through the coil 330 ofthe lead wire and flare removal solenoid (not shown) at Station 111.

Lead wire detecting circuit at Station 6 A conductor 334 extends fromthe junction point 315 with the conductor 310 to the microswitch arm 59of the lead Wire detector or microswitch 49 at Station 6. A conductor336 extends from the junction point 326 with the line 318 through a coil338 of a solenoid (not shown) for preventing the loading of a flare 22at Station 6 to the normally closed contact 48 of the microswitch 49.

Thus, when the lead wires 20 are missing from a weld pocket 28 indexinginto Station 6 the microswitch arm 50 does not move and the microswitch49 remains closed. A closed circuit exists from the power supply throughthe coil 338 of the solenoid (not shown) for controlling the loading ofa Hare 22.

First flare detecting circuit at Station 7 to-the swingable microswitchoperating or detecting yarm .52.oa rstare. detectorormcroswitch 51nt'Station 7. A conductor 344 extends from the junction point 326 withthe line 318 through a coil 346 of a second lead wire removal solenoid(not shown) to the normally closed contact 54 of the microswitch 51.

Thus, when a head 30 indexes into Station 7 without a flare 18 thereinthe swingable arm 52 remains in en. gagement with the contact 54 and aclosed circuit exists from the power supply through the coil 346 of thesecond lead wire removal solenoid (not shown) at Station 7.

Second flare detecting circuit at Station 9 A conductor 317a extendsfrom the junction point 317 with the conductor 310 to the movablemicroswitch operating or detecting arm 60 of the second flare detectoror microswitch 58 at Stationf9. A line 352 connects the junction point328 with the line 318 through a coil 354 of a solenoid (not shown) forpreventing the loading of the exhaust tube 22 at Station 9, if a flare18 is missing thereat to the normally closed contact 62 of the micro#switch 58.

Thus, when a head 30 indexes into Station 9 without a are 18 therein themicroswitch arm 60 maintains its contact with the contact 62 of themicroswitch 58 and a closed circuit exists from the power supply throughthe coil 354 of the solenoid (not shown) for controlling the feeding ofan exhaust tube 22.

Lead wire loading circuit The lead wire loading circuit comprisesessentially a Weld pocket detecting circuit in parallel with anoperating relay'activation circuit and a lead Wire delivery circuit.

It will be understood that the parts of the lead wire loading circuitare shown in Fig. 14 just before the closing of the cam operated leadwire delivery microswitch 202.

Weld pocket detecting circuit A conductor 312e connects the junctionpoint 312 with the line 310 to one side of the normally closed resettingmicroswitch 200. The other side of the resetting switch 200 is connectedby la line to a junction point 364 with a line 366 `leading to thecontact 44 of lche normally open weld pocket detector or microswitch 40between Station 3 and Station 4. The other side of the detector ormicroswitch 40 is connected by a line '368 through a junction point 370through a coil (not shown) of a relay 374 to the junction point 320 withthe line 318.

Thus', when there are lead wires 20 in a weld pocket 28 indexing betweenStationsl 3 and 4 the detector or microswitch 40 is momentarily closedand a closed circuit exists through the cam operated resetting switch280, the now closed weld pocket detector 40 and the coil (not shown) ofthe relay 374. A normally open holding contact 380 and a normally closedcontact 381 of the relay 374 are closed and opened respectively.

A conductor 370a joins the junction point 370 with the line 368 to oneside of the normally open holding contact 3 8@ of the relay 374. Theother side of the contact 389 is joined by a conductor 382 to a junctionpoint 384 with the line 366.

Thus, when the coil (not shown) of the relay 374 is energized by theaforementioned circuit, the normal-1y open holding contact 380 becomesclosed. A closed holding circuit now exists through the cam operatedswitch 200, the now closed holding contact 380 and the coil of the relay374.

vOperating relay activation circuit The conductor 366, it will beunderstood, extends from the junction point 364 through the junctionpoint 384 with the line 382 to the hereinbefore mentioned junction point237 with the line 234. The line 234 extends through the normally closedbellows' operated switch 218, to the Ajunction point 233, a coil (notshown) of a second relay 392 having normally open (but now shown closedin Fig.

absence 14) contacts 394 and 396 to the junction point 322 with theconductor 318.

Thus, when there is a lead wire 20 in each of the selector slots 168 ofthe lead wire loader 4'5, the pressure responsive actuating means orbellows 212 is in a contracted position, shown in Fig. 14 and the switch218 remains closed. A closed circuit now exists through the camoperating resetting switch 200, the bellows operated switch 218 and thecoil (not shown) of the relay 392. The normally open contacts 394 and396 of the relay 392 are now closed.

A conductor 397 extends from the junction point 23-3 with the line 234through the normally open, but now closed, holding contact 394 of therelay 392 to the junction point 237 with the lines 366 and 234.

Lead wire delivery circuit A line 314a connects the junction point 314with the conductor 310 to one side of the normally open lead wiredelivery cam switch 202. The other side of the switch 202 is connectedby a line 402 extending through a junction point 404, a signal lamp 40'5and a junction point 406 through a coil 408 of the lead wire dischargesolenoid (not shown) for operating the 3-way valve 222 (shown in Fig.14) to the junction point 321 with the line 318.

A conductor 420 extends from the junction point 404 with the conductor402 through the normally closed (if the weld pocket 28 is clean betweenStations 3 and 4) contact 381 of the relay 374, through the normallyopen but now closed (due to the energization of the relay 392) contact396 of the relay 392, to a junction point 406 with the line 402.

Thus, if no lead wires 20 are detected in a weld pocket 28 betweenStations 3 and 4 during the indexing of a head 30 therebetween, by theweld pocket detector 40, the relay 374 is not energized and the normallyclosed contact 381 thereof remains closed. At Station 4, as the leadwire selector slide 160 fills the selector slots 168 therein with leadwires 20 from the hoppers 138, the pressure within the pressureresponsive actuating device (Le. the bellows 212) drops, and the bellows212 contracts. Contraction of the bellows 212 closes the switch 218,energizing the second relay 392 and closing the normally open contacts394 and 396, thus readying the lead wire delivery circuit for activationupon closure of the cam operated lead wire delivery switch 202.

As shown in Fig. 15, when the lead wire delivery microswitch 202 isactivated by the cam 205 on the cam shaft 206, the coil 408 of the valvesolenoid (not shown) is energized. The 3-Way solenoid operated valve 222is turned in a clockwise direction 90 (Fig. 14) by means of an operatingplunger 500 (Fig. 4) and a connecting link 502, so that the vacuum line173 (and the exhaust chamber 171 within the slide 160) are disconnectedfrom the evacuation system (not shown) and connected to the atmosphereline 224. Air rushing into the exhaust cham- `ber 171 through exhaustgroove 170 tothe selectorslot 168 releases the formerly vacuum heldleadwires 20. The lead wires 20 drop downwardly through the guide holes136:1 in the bottom plate 136 (Fig. 5), the guide holes 181 in the leadWire chute 180 and into the lead wire receiving holes 248 in thetransfer cup 246 of the transfer cup assembly 46, as' hereinbeforementioned.

Test circuit and through a signal lamp 510 to the junction point 324with the line 318.

Thus, if the coilof the relay 392 fails to operate and i4 the manualswitch 506 is closed, a closed circuit should exist through theresetting switch 200, the bellows operated switch 218, switch 566 andthe signal lamp 510. The lamp 510 should light.

Summary Thus, it will be seen from the foregoing description that themethod of the invention for loading a full set of lead wires 20 at onetime at one station, for example Station 4 of the automatic stem makingmachine 10, comprises detecting a clean weld pocket 28 during indexingof a head 30 between Stations 3 and "4 by means of a normally open weldpocket detector 40; detecting the presence of a complete set of leadwires 20 in the lead wire loader 45 during the selection or segregationthereof by a vacuum type lead wire detector 14, thus insuringnon-delivery of the lead wires 20, if less than a complete set of leadwires 2.0 is present in said lead wire loader 45 and a possible secondattempt by the slide 160 of the lead wire loader 45 to deliver acomplete set of lead wires 20 on the next portion of the work cycle;loading a complete set of lead wires 20 into a weld pocket 28 at onetime at Station 4; detecting the lead wire 20 with a lead wire detector49 at Station 6 and loading a ilare 18 into a flare holder assembly' 47of a head 30 at said Station 6; detecting a ilare 18 at Station 7 andremoving the lead wires 30 from the weld pocket 28 if a flare 18 is notpres-' ent in a flare holder -assembly 47 of a head 30; gathering thelead wires 20 by means of a lead wire gathering device 56 (Fig. 3) andraising the weld pocket 28 to position the lead wires 20 within theflare 18 at Station 8;

detecting a flare 18 by means of a second flare detector' 578 at Station9 and loading an exhaust tube 22 into an exhaust tube holder assembly 64thereat if a ilare 18 is present; detecting an exhaust tube 22 atStation "11 by means of an exhaust tube detector 66 and removing saidlead wires 20 and said are 18 if said exhaust tube 22 is missingtherefrom.

The apparatus 12 feeds lead wires 20 to a weld pocket 28 of a stemmaking machine 10. The apparatus 12 comprises a plurality of lead wirehoppers 138 for supplying the required number of lead wires 20individually, a lead wire loader or slide assembly 45 for selecting andsegregating the desired number of lead wires 20 in selector slots 168provided in the slide 160, a vacuum type lead Wire detector 14 fordetecting the presence of a full set of lead wires 20 in the slide 160and a transfer cup assembly 46 for delivering a full set of lead wires20 to the weld pocket 28.

The lead wire loader 45 (having its lead wire selector slots 168 undervacuum) slides into contact with (on the first attempt) and across (onthe second attempt) the loading end of each of the pressure stacked leadwire hoppers 1'38 to select and segregate a lead wire 20 within eachslot 1'68. As each selector slot 168 is plugged with a lead wire 20 thepressure in the vacuum type detector 14 drops, thus causing the pressureresponsive actuating means (i.e. the bellows 212 of Fig. l2 or thevacuum gauge 212 of Fig. 17) to close the switch 218 in the lead wiredelivery circuit mentioned above. At the end of the motion of the slide160, each lead wire '20 is held in its selector slot 168 adjacent thedelivery grooves 170 in the center partition 142 and guides 139 in thehoppers 13-8.

The vacuum type lead wire detector 14 of the invention comprises theslide of the selector slide assembly 45, a solenoid operated valve 222between the slide 160 and the evacuating means (not shown) and apressure responsive actuating means, such as the vacuum gauge 212 ofFig. 17 or the pressure responsive bellows 212 of Fig. 12 for operatinga switch 218 in an electrical work circuit for delivering lead wires 20from the selector slots 168 in the slide 160 through bottom plate 136 ofthe hoppers 138 and the chute 180 into the lead wire receiving holes 248of the transfer cup assembly 46 therebelow.

The lead wire loading circuit of the invention has a normally closedc'amoperated resettingY switch 200 in series with a normally open weldpocket detector 40 and a coil (not shown). of a relay 374 having anormally open holding contact 380. AY normally closed operating contact381 of the relay 374 is in series with the normally open contact 396 ofa second relay 392 (having a normally open holding contact '394), anormally open but momentarily closed cam operated lead wire deliveryswitch 202 and the coil 408 of tht valve activating solenoid (notshown). The coil of this second relay '392 is in series with the bellowsoperated switch 218, and both are paralleled with the weld pocketdetector 40 and coil o f the first relay 374.

Although a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed itwill be understood that modifications may be made within the spirit andscope of the invention.

I claim:

1. Apparatus comprising an article storing means tor containing aplurality of articles, a hollow article selecting means provided with aslot for receiving an article therein, drive means operatively connectedto said article selecting means for moving the latter along said articlestoring means, said slot being adapted to receive an article from saidarticle storing means during movement therrealong, a pressure responsivemeans connected to said article selecting means and said slot andoperable to indicate the presence of said article in said slot, valvemeans operatively connected to said article selecting means and saidslot, evacuating means operatively connected to said valve means andnormally communicable with said slot to secure by suction said articlereceived therein during movement of the article selecting means alongsaid article storing means, atmosphere inlet means connected to saidvalve means and operable to destroy the vacuum within said articleselecting means and in said slot, actuating means operatively connectedto said pressure responsive means and rendered operative by the pressureresponsive means when an article is present in said slot as determinedby the pressure responsive means, and operating means operativelyconnected to said valve means and said actuating means, said operatingmeans being operable to cause operation of said valve means to admit airfrom said atmosphere inlet means to said` article selecting means andsaid slot, thereby causing the release of said article therefrom.

2. Apparatus comprising an article receiving means, an article storingmeans for containing a plurality of articles, a hollow article selectingmeans provided with a slot for receiving an article therein, drive meansoperatively connected to said article selecting means for moving thelatter along said article storing means, said slot being adapted toreceive an article from said article storing means during movementtherealong, a pressure responsive means connected lto said articleselecting means and said slot and operable to indicate the presence ofsaid article in said slot, valve means operatively connected `to saidarticle selecting means and said slot, evacuating means operativelyconnected to said valve means and normally communicableV with said slotto secure by suction said article received therein during movement ofthe article selecting means along said article storing means, atmosphereinlet means connected to said valve means and operable to destroy thevacuum within said article selecting means and in said slot, actuatingmeans `operatively connected to said pressure responsive means landrendered operative bythe pressure *responsive means when an article ispresent in said slot as determined by the pressure responsive means,operating means operatively connected to said valve means and saidactuating means, said operating means being operable to cause operationof said valve means to admit from said atmosphere inlet means to saidarticle selecting means and said slot, thereby 'causing the release ofsaid article therefrom, and Vdetecting means disposed adjacent saidarticle receiving means and operatively` connected to said operatingmeans for detecting the presence of an article in said article receivingmeans prior to the release of said article from said slot, saidoperating means being rendered inoperative by said detecting means whenthere is an article present in said article receiving means prior to therelease of said secured article from said slot, thereby preventing therelease of said secured article to said article receiving means.

3. Apparatus comprising a plurality of article storing means, a hollowarticle selecting means, drive means operatively connected to saidarticle selecting means for moving the latter between said articlestoring means, said article selecting means being provided with aplurality of slots, each slot being adapted to receive an article fromsaid article storing means during movement of the article selectingmeans therebetween, a pressure responsive means connected to saidarticle selecting means and said slots and operable to indicate thepresence of said articles in said slots, valve means operativelyconnected to said article selecting means and said slots, evacuatingmeans operatively connected to said valve means and normallycommunicable with said article selecting means and said slots to secureby suction said articles received in said slots during movement of thearticle selecting means between said articleV storing means, atmosphereinlet means connected to said valve means and operable to 4destroy thevacuum within said article selecting means and in said slots, actuatingmeans operatively connected to said pressure responsive means andrendered operative by the pressure responsive means when a lfullcomplement of articles is present insaid slots as determined by thepressure responsive means, and operating means operatively connected tosaid valve means and said actuating means, said operating means beingoperable to cause operation of said valve meansto admit air from saidatmosphere inlet means to said article selecting means and said slots,thereby causing the release of said secured articles from the articleselecting slots.

4. Apparatus comprising an article receiving means, a plurality ofarticle storing means, a hollow article selecting means, drive meansoperatively connected to said article selecting means for moving thelatter between said article storing means, said article selecting meansbeing provided with a plurality of slots, each slot being adapted toreceive an article from said article storing means during movement ofthe article selecting means therebetween, a pressure responsive meansconnected to said article selecting means and said slots and operable toindicate the presence of said articles in said slots, valve meansoperatively connected to said article selecting means and said slots,evacuating means operatively connected to said valve means and normallycommunicable with said article selecting means and said slots to secureby suction said articles received in said slots during movement of thearticle selecting means between said article storing means, atmosphereinlet means connected to said valve means and operable to destroy the.vacuum within said article selecting means and in said slots, actuatingmeans operatively connected lto said pressure' responsive means andrendered operative by the press-ure responsive'means when a 16u11complement of articles is present in said slots as determined by thepressure responsive means, operating means operatively connected to saidvalve means and said actuating means, said operating means beingoperable to cause operation of said valve means to admit air from saidatmosphere inlet means to said article selecting means and to saidslots, thereby causing the release of said secured articles from saidslots, and detecting means disposed adjacent said article receivingmeans and operatively connected to said operating means for detectingthe presence ot articles in said article receiving means prior to therelease of said secured articles from said slots, said operating meansbeing rendered inoperative by said detecting means when there arearticles present in said article receiving means prior to the release ofsaid secured articles Vfrom said slots, `thereby preventing the releaseof said secured articles to said article receiving means.

5. Apparatus comprising an article receiving means, a plurality ofarticle storing means, a hollow article selecting means, drive meansoperatively connected to said article selecting means for moving thelatter between said article storing means, said article selecting meansbeing provided with a plurality of slots for receiving articles fromsaid article storing means during movement therebetween, a pressureresponsive means connected to said article selecting means and saidslots and operable to indicate the presence of said articles in saidslots, valve means operatively connected to said article selecting meansand said slots, evacuating means operatively connected to said valvemeans and normally communicable with said slots to secure by suctionsaid articles received therein during movement of the article selectingrelay and Adetecting means disposed adjacent said article receivingmeans and operatively connected to said second relay for detecting thepresence of articles in said article receiving means prior to therelease of said secured `articles from said slots, said second relaybeing energized when there are articles present in the article receivingmeans, and an article delivery circuit comprising a normally closedcontact of said second relay operatively connected to a normally opencontact of said first relay, and operating means operatively connectedto said valve means and said contacts, said operating means beingoperable upon closure of said contacts to cause operation of said valvemeans to admit air from said atmosphere inlet means to said articleselecting means and to said slots, thereby causing the release of saidsecured articles therefrom and to said article receiving means.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 785,932Baltzer et al Mar. 28, 1905 1,680,024 Koerner Aug. 7, 1928 1,801,119Soepnel et al Apr. 14, 1931 2,570,660 Gamble Oct. 9, 1951 2,618,480Williams Nov. 18, 1952 2,683,538 Kingston et al. July 13, 1954 2,730,068Reynolds et al. Ian. 10, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 11,064 Great Britain 19111,046,640 France July l5, 1953

